As part of the pilot research project “Development of robotics and mobile robotics systems for vehicle washing and care”, ISTOBAL has taken a decisive step toward advanced automation with Robotnik’s RB-KAIROS+, an Autonomous Mobile Manipulator that combines precision, flexibility, and autonomy.

The digital transformation of the automotive industry is not limited to manufacturing. Traditionally manual processes, such as vehicle washing and care, are increasingly incorporating mobile robotics and manipulation solutions that boost efficiency, improve safety, and optimize the use of resources.

In this context, ISTOBAL and Robotnik developed a project applying the Autonomous Mobile Manipulator RB-KAIROS+ to the vehicle washing sector, redefining automation in service environments.

MOBILE ROBOTICS APPLIED TO VEHICLE WASHING
As part of the pilot research project "Development of robotics and mobile robotics systems for vehicle washing and care", ISTOBAL has taken a decisive step toward advanced automation with Robotnik's RB-KAIROS+, an Autonomous Mobile Manipulator that combines precision, flexibility, and autonomy.
The key objectives of the research phase include:
• Reducing operating costs by automating repetitive tasks.
• Optimizing resources (water, energy, chemicals) through controlled and precise applications.
• Increasing workplace safety by limiting staff exposure to wet environments and moving machinery.
• Ensuring quality through consistent and repeatable results in every cycle.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS OF THE RB-KAIROS+ IN WASHING ENVIRONMENTS
Automation with mobile manipulators reduces the need for direct human intervention in wet areas, minimizing risks of electrocution, entrapment, or slipping. Furthermore, as a collaborative system, the RB-KAIROS+ can operate safely in the same workspace as human operators, without the need to fence off its area of activity.
The RB-KAIROS+ primarily takes on functions of the washing process that require precision and repeatability. In this way, it delivers consistent and reliable results while freeing operators from routine and less rewarding tasks, allowing them to focus on higher-value activities.
Some of the tasks that Robotnik's mobile manipulator robot can perform to automate vehicle washing include:

• Profiling and scanning the bodywork to adjust washing parameters for each vehicle.
• Planning and executing trajectories, optimizing cycle times.
• Precise application of soaps, waxes, and treatments, minimizing waste.
• Finishing operations, where repeatability is essential for final quality.

IMPACT OF ROBOTICS ON THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY
According to the IFR, the automotive sector accounts for more than 40% of global demand for industrial robots. However, this percentage is not limited exclusively to the manufacturing process. The smart factory concept goes beyond industrial production. Processes such as vehicle washing are also part of this trend toward digitization and comprehensive automation.

In this context, the RB-KAIROS+ is established as a key tool to achieve a future where robotics and autonomous mobile manipulation become part of everyday operations. The ISTOBAL project with the RB-KAIROS+ serves as a case study that anticipates the expansion of these technologies throughout the automotive ecosystem, providing tangible improvements in safety, sustainability, and productivity across an increasing number of tasks.

The RB-KAIROS+ consolidates itself as a benchmark in autonomous mobile manipulation, paving the way toward the intelligent automation of service processes. With projects like this, the industry takes another step toward the smart factory paradigm, where every operation, from production to maintenance and after-sales service, benefits from advanced robotics.